Managing Orbi over VPN

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Bob DeRosier

• March 14, 2023 18:51

I have a firewalla Purple, with a Netgear Orbi sitting behind it.  Normally I can manage the Orbi using a phone app while on the local network.  

However, without enabling Orbi Anywhere access, there is no external access to manage it.  So,I setup a VPN from the phone to the Purple. That didn't allow me to access the Orbi.  Any thoughts on what I need to configure to allow me to manage the Orbi remotely over the VPN?

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  Michael Bierman

  • March 14, 2023 19:28

  Just to make sure I understand... 

  ISP > Orbi > FWP or 

  ISP > FWP >  Orbi > FWP 

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  Firewalla

  • March 14, 2023 19:34

  Does the Orbi allow you to manage it via another network (while you are on VPN, you are really not local). If it doesn't, then likely you probably can't do anything, since the orbi app may know if you are local or not

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  Bob DeRosier

  • March 14, 2023 19:48

  ISP > FWP > Orbi is the physical setup.
  
  I don't understand the second line as I am only using 1 FWP.  
  
  I don't know how the Orbi app finds the Orbi.  I was hoping someone here knew that answer - so I know whether its worth looking into setting up routing/port forwarding rules or something like that over the VPN.  
  
  Orbi Access Anywhere allows access via Netgear's cloud services.  I don't know anything about their security, how they connect, how they setup nor maintain the cloud infrastructure, etc and would rather not expose my network.  It looks like the phone app would authenticate via the Netgear cloud, then tunnel in somehow.

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  Michael Bierman

  • March 14, 2023 19:55

  How is the Orbi set up? Is it in AP mode? 

  Note from Orbi: 

  

   

  https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point

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  Bob DeRosier

  • March 14, 2023 20:16

  yes it is in AP mode.  As I recall, that meant I could give the Purple sufficient visibility into the traffic.

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  Michael Bierman

  • March 14, 2023 20:41

  Yes, but Orbi doesn't let you manage the AP in AP mode. 

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  Doug

  • March 15, 2023 02:52
  • Edited

  If you can find the IP of the Orbi base station you can login using a web browser at

  http://1.1.1.1/start.htm

  If your Firewalla is doing the routing the firewalla app will show the assigned IP.  Or any lan scanning software will do.

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  Bob DeRosier

  • March 15, 2023 20:14

  I would have done that if my brain was fully online at the time.  I will check it the next time I am out and about and the cable connection is up.

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  Michael Bierman

  • March 16, 2023 01:02

  @Doug, 

  I see what you are saying now. You can use the web even though you can't use the orbi app. 
  
  The 1.1.1.1 threw me off as that will not get you to the Orbi devices. :) 

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